The unique part of any rally is that it is the epicenter of motorcycle culture where music and travel culture often intermix. This is seen at the big rallies across the country like Sturgis and Daytona Bike Week with rides during the day, motorcycle shows hosted in the afternoons, and live music at night. While this formula is tried and true, there is one new rally that is putting its own twist on what motorcycle enthusiasts can jive with, and that’s rodeo.
In its third year, the Virginia City Roundup motorcycle rally and rodeo brought riders and builders out from all corners of the US and Canada. Held in the 1800s gold mining boom town of Virginia City, Nevada, the Virginia City Round Up looks to bridge the love of riding a bucking bronc with the love of riding a bucking chopper down a bumpy road.
Hosted by Cary Brobeck, former editor of Easyriders magazine and current owner and editor of Choppers magazine, the event hosts vendors and invited builders who build a motorcycle to debut at the Roundup, as well as the Outlaw Broncs rodeo that not only has pro riders, but also allows anyone with $20 and a signed waiver to test their cowboy skills on top of a full-size live bull or horse. You read that right, if you want to cowboy up and hop on a live, two-thousand-pound bull, this is the place.
To make sure all subgenres of American V Twin are celebrated, Brobeck and crew set up a chopper section, Dyna section, bagger section, and even space for Harley corporate to show off their newest models. While custom builds at a dusty fairground with a rodeo may not seem to be the most practical marriage of two cultures, it actually works surprisingly well. Riders were loving the chance to win the grand prize of $1,000 for best bull ride while friends looked on.
After the show, the moto circus headed up the hill onto the main street of Virginia City for food and libations complete with live music in the historic buildings from Virginia City’s gold mining heyday. The locals loved sharing their town’s history while the riders loved being transported back in time. Just like that, in the course of a weekend, the Old West came alive once again—this time on iron horses.
I was raised in Virginia city. My grandmother, grandfather had a home upper 3 streets above town.